The Math and The Lottery

Reply #56

BuzzsawAnn — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 01:51:20 GMT

It is the math- John is correct- this is not a fair game- they use different ball sets and change the range of numbers from time to time amd because there are millions of possibilities the lottery can rake in tons of money.The lottery is weighted against the player but you can increases your chances slightly I think by tracking the balls.

Reply #55

RJOh — Mon, 26 Dec 2005 01:10:22 GMT

If you are a number cruncher, the best thing you can do is to record what you crunched and how well you did. It has been my experience that eliminating numbers is more likely to be harmful than helpful. Some ideas sound better than they actually are and a record of how well they've done in the past should be a good indication of how well they will work in the future.

Reply #54

MrBobb — Mon, 26 Dec 2005 00:40:35 GMT

rabbitfoot said: I'm not a number cruncher but if I was I would be looking for 8 to 10 numbers that WOULD BE drawn and wheel them to cover those possibilities. One would automatically eliminate all the other numbers in the field but there is still no guarantee that you are going to win any thing. Actually, that's what we're fine tuning at this point. However, the more numbers you can eliminate, the lower the odds. Once you can consistently eliminate a pool of numbers from the game, analyz... [ More ]

Reply #53

rabbitfoot — Mon, 26 Dec 2005 00:22:36 GMT

MrBobb wrote: My lottery playing partner attempts to eliminate 8 to 10 numbers in the GA and FL Fantasy 5 games through analysis and most times he is successful and those numbers aren't drawn... I'm not a number cruncher but if I was I would be looking for 8 to 10 numbers that WOULD BE drawn and wheel them to cover those possibilities. One would automatically eliminate all the other numbers in the field but there is still no guarantee that you are going to win any thing. In most cases, I sti... [ More ]

Reply #52

justxploring — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 23:14:46 GMT

I've read several times that two third of lottery winners used quick picks, so it's obvious that most winners don't use any type of analysis at all and do just fine. I'm sure it's been written here many times, but most people buy QPs which is why they win all the time. Even people who choose random numbers will say give me a couple of QPs once in a while. The winning numbers on Wed in FL were 3-4-5-9-44-51. It was a QuickPick. $46million won by one person. (Why would a 20 year old take the... [ More ]

Reply #51

RJOh — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 22:16:00 GMT

I posted that comment over eight months ago and I'm still hanging in there hoping to get lucky. My latest efforts was shared in the Pick5 forum for Rolling Cash5 Christmas eve drawing. I spent $20 to win $11. I'm still dreaming of the day that I can post that I matched 5/5 in RC5 or MegaMillions using my program and having fun chasing the dream.RJOh

Reply #50

MrBobb — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 22:03:55 GMT

My lottery playing partner attempts to eliminate 8 to 10 numbers in the GA and FL Fantasy 5 games through analysis and most times he is successful and those numbers aren't drawn. While I agree that a good measure of luck is still required to win a jackpot, being able to eliminate numbers through analysis reduces the odds, and therefore the amount of luck needed.You only need to win a jackpot once to have your life change significantly. Even a small one between $100k and $500k will do.

Reply #49

rabbitfoot — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 21:40:39 GMT

RJOH nailed this discussion before it ever got started. That is, number crunching is entertaining, and there is nothing wrong with that, but so far no one has come up with a system to break the bank. It seems that LUCK is still the big factor in winning a major jackpot.

Reply #48

johnph77 — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 11:02:35 GMT

Posted by Tenaj: Yesterday, 12:10 am - IP LoggedI agree. I remember in one lottery book 178 was listed as dormant. And some numbers favor certain states too. And some states can't buy certain numbers.***************The more populated states limit the quantity of tickets sold on certain oversubscribed combinations to limit any adverse effect on the daily float should these numbers hit. Combinations like all triples, 711, 911 and others generally sell out early in those states.

Reply #47

Tenaj — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 05:10:40 GMT

I agree. I remember in one lottery book 178 was listed as dormant. And some numbers favor certain states too. And some states can't buy certain numbers.

Reply #46

emilyg — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 04:43:06 GMT

such as the 9 in ga.

Reply #45

Tenaj — Sun, 11 Dec 2005 04:04:47 GMT

I think the math determines the lotto numbers because all numbers are the same. The math returns a number right back to itself.

Reply #44

cps10 — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 15:33:29 GMT

If you are playing Pick-3, I think you can use mathematical formulas, however, I also think that even with the best probability of a number coming up, it could still stay dormant.

Reply #43

JKING — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 15:26:57 GMT

Does math determine the lotto numbers or do the lotto numbers determine the math

Reply #42

MickSeven — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 01:09:50 GMT

I tend to use quickpicks- but some of the combinations seem highly unlikely. For example, having 54-55-56 as 3 of the 5 numbers seems like a longshot, but of course every drawing is statistically independent of anyother previous lottery drawings. In the past I have spread the numbers as to not pick 3 numbers with the same first digit.Do the majority of you pick your own numbers because you feel as though the quick picks give spreads (spaces between numbers) that are often consecutive and dis... [ More ]

Reply #41

doodoohead — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 03:16:10 GMT

Very interesting. Please continue.

Reply #40

WIN D — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 01:24:20 GMT

From the folks who really invented the first Zero....... not the Arabs ! Let's put these on the sides of the ping pong balls. It would work.

Reply #39

justxploring — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 21:04:12 GMT

I guess the only reason I use a Quick Pick is so I can block the numbers out after I quickly check them online. For some stupid reason (fear mostly) I've been playing the same 2 sets of 6 numbers in FL for many years. 4 of the 6 numbers are the same too. If I go out of town, I'll purchase advanced play tickets. I keep thinking that, although they might never hit, if I make a change they might come up and there's not enough Valium in the world that would calm me down, if I didn't drop dead insta... [ More ]

Reply #38

cahaba — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 02:02:29 GMT

Elaborate lottoweave

Reply #37

lottoweave — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 11:52:39 GMT

The mathematical instrument may play the role. But has the strict condition request.

Reply #36

RJOh — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 19:22:30 GMT

Regardless of what one thinks, if it can't improve their picks then it doesn't matter. For me, part of the fun of playing lotteries is analyzing past lottery history using math and making my picks accordingly. So far I haven't won a jackpot, so maybe math doesn't help.

Reply #35

JimmySand9 — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 04:19:35 GMT

Mathematical methods may work on computer drawings (for they are actually aware of the number being drawn), but using math to predict ball drawings is playing off of pure coincidence. With a mechanical machine, you're not really picking numbers. You're picking the actual balls and simply using numbers to discern one from the other. That's what I think anyway.

Reply #34

RJOh — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 04:15:40 GMT

For me anything about a lottery that can not be stated in mathematical terms is random, unstructured and can not be used in a computer program, so when I analyze lottery data I'm looking for trends and conditions that can be expressed using math because I'm want to use a computer to look at thousands of possible combinations and pick combinations from the 3-4% that will win some money.

Reply #33

JKING — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 14:07:15 GMT

I'm on the side that says that math only gets you part of the way there. It is great for establishing a range that lottery numbers will fall in, but when it comes to individual events (draws) standard analysis methods seem to be unreliable. This ends up being a real dilema, because math is really the only good tool there is for predicting. Because, there are so many ways to cut and slice lottery data, and the fact that you have so many ways you can mix data reduction methods, the search continue... [ More ]

Reply #32

Tenaj — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 19:41:20 GMT

Reply #31

BaristaExpress — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 19:18:35 GMT

MMM, Math has to play a large part of the lottery! Everything we do in life has math attached to it in some way or another! How many miles can the car go on a gal of gas. You name it math is there somewhere. So I'd have to say math has a lot to do with the lottery.

Reply #30

RJOh — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 17:52:51 GMT

Math may have nothing to do with playing the lottery, but it has a lot to do with talking about the lottery. You can't talk odds of winning/losing, possible combinations, wheel sizes/coverage or statistic without it. Players developing strategies to play more than a few combinations hoping to get lucky can't do without it.When states set up lotteries, they do the math to make sure it's going to payoff for them and players should do the same to know their risks.

Reply #29

Down — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 16:04:07 GMT

if you think about it math has nothing to do with lottery, sure doing the math might tell you what has a better chance of comming up but really when you think about it how can math help you win something that is random? all it takes to win the lottery is luck.

Reply #28

destinedtowin — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 02:06:25 GMT

I don't use a math system because I don't know how. However I play the same numbers no matter what state I'm in, and just to spice it up I buy one QP. Remember if you play more than one set of numbers though you are betting aginst yourself. As my name says I'm Destinedtowin.

Reply #27

Just6ntlc — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 03:29:40 GMT

Listen up Todd. I have my response. The reason I'm doing fewer one sentence material because I want to respect your rules, but also clutter is one of my weaknesses. When I do a topic or respond to thread, I'm explaining in full detail with 2+ sentences and 2+ lines. The example of the math and the lottery, I only pick my numbers based upon what I think will be the next numbers and/or what my dad thinks.

Reply #26

Todd — Sun, 07 Aug 2005 01:26:40 GMT

He did not forget. He is just purposely not posting, and I'll make it a point to remind him. When he posts in another thread, I'll post a link back to this one, until he finally answers. I have finally had enough, and I won't accept rudeness anymore.

Reply #25

LANTERN — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 18:25:24 GMT

Yes, Todd, if people are interested enough to post something anywhere, they should also re-check those threads, just in case somebody responds to their post.But some people post and forget.I try to keep track of posts in which I post anything, just in case anybody says anything to me.Good luck.

Reply #24

Todd — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 17:45:19 GMT

Still no answer.

Reply #23

Todd — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 01:21:41 GMT

Just what I expected. No reply from Just6ntlc. Every time I ask Just6ntlc anything, I never get a reply.It's kind of rude, and I do file these things in the back of my mind.

Reply #22

Todd — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 22:59:16 GMT

This is a very good example of what I'm talking about with one-sentence responses. It basically says nothing at all, because the words frequency and hot/cold situations are so generic that no one has any idea how you select your numbers.If you want to say how you pick your numbers, then put together a real post describing how you do it.If you just want to post something general in nature that really doesn't say anything at all, then please don't bother to post it -- or post it in your blog.... [ More ]

Reply #21

Just6ntlc — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 22:50:19 GMT

I usually pick my own numbers based upon frequency and hot/cold situations.

Reply #20

Elizabeth03 — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 00:54:09 GMT

Mouche, Were those combinations you listed above already called in the Dutch lottery or could people try them for any lottery

Reply #19

Pick-4_Master — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 21:45:57 GMT

For your Australian Lottery game and 7 number wheels check out www.smartluck.com www.ldir.com and www.lottoarchitect.com I'm quite sure you'll find what you need and be able too decide which software is the best for you.

Reply #18

red0412303609 — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 10:27:12 GMT

maybe Pick 4 master can help me here. We have a lottery here that plays up to 14 winning numbers in a draw- Im after some software that can help me store the winning numbers and help track some trends u need 7 numbers to get a prize and when you get 14 numbers the prize payout is low.Im also after 7 number wheels abbreviated and filtered,can u help me Pick-4-master

Reply #17

Pick-4_Master — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 06:06:58 GMT

I have the BEST Lottery Software for playing the Daily and Lotto games all I need now is too perfect my number selection skills.Number selection is the Key once you conquer that your well on your way too a jackpot,using software just requires good knowledge of filtering and knowing which programs are the best too use.I'm an excellent filter user and currently own some of the best programs on the market Lottery Director , Lotto-Architect , Lotto-Hat , LS2004 and Gail Howards Advantage Plus... [ More ]

Reply #16

Mouche — Sat, 09 Jul 2005 17:48:25 GMT

Hi, I am a relative beginner in the lottery (6 months). I came up with the following patterns, along with hot, average, cold, high/low numbers and ball positioning. Please allow me to elaborate:Dutch lottery (6/45 - you can also play 5/45, thus avoiding the bonus ball and the colour, an additional feature here..)15 - 24 - 30 - 31 - 32 - 37 (14)2 - 9 - 19 - 37 - 44 - 45 (33)I found that the previous 2 numbers added and/or deducted are strong indicators: in both instances 14 and 25 lead to ..9 (9

Reply #15

RJOh — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 23:46:16 GMT

John,As I mentioned in my earlier post even being able to improve their odds by 40% during 65% of the drawings doesn't interest the average lottery player but it would be interesting to have software available that would look for such long term scenarios and display the percent of improvement, it might come in handy for pool players.RJOh

Reply #14

johnph77 — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 19:11:43 GMT

RJOh -Maybe even better than that. A 5/53 matrix without the Powerball has 2,869,685 possibilities, a 5/47 matrix (what you'd have if you removed 6 numbers - any 6 numbers) has 1,533,939 possibilities. Including the Powerball a 5/53 + 1/42 matrix has 120,526,770 possibilities, a 5/47 + 1/36 matrix has 55,222,884 possibilities - a reduction of over 50%. That means that, in theory, if you had played those possibilities in those 184 draws your payout percentage would have been over 100%. But you'd... [ More ]

Reply #13

RJOh — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 15:39:47 GMT

In 184 of the 280 Powerball drawings none of the numbers 03 08 12 23 36 53 came up. Eliminating these numbers from the pool of 53 numbers could had reduced the odds of winning from 1:120M to 1:72M during those 184 draws. I doubt if anyone takes advantage of that fact even though everyone is aware that these numbers have hit less than 20 times each during all 280 drawings because tilting the odds by 40% during 65% of the drawings is not enough to make a difference to the average lottery player.... [ More ]

Reply #12

johnph77 — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 05:38:53 GMT

lchoro -But IF there is a bias such as you mention it's going to be the wiseguys , the analysts, who find it. And it's only those who utilize hot/hot or cold/cold trending who can and will use that bias to their advantage. It won't be the Quick-Pick player.But let's face it. With lottery payout percentages falling generally between 50% and 60%, you'd have to find some sort of bias to tilt the odds of winning almost 2 to 1 in order to have a chance at long-term profits. And that just doesn't... [ More ]

Reply #11

lchoro — Sun, 12 Jun 2005 17:46:02 GMT

Interesting article. lottery officials are as hip to bias as the wiseguys who write computer programs. They know if their drawings do show bias, the betting public will eventually discover it and start betting heavily on the hot numbers. That means more winners dividing up every pot, lower average payouts, and less interest (and fewer bets) on the part of gamblers. So the people in charge do all in their power to ensure that the winning numbers are as random as human ingenuity can make them.One... [ More ]

Reply #10

kdsjeter — Wed, 08 Jun 2005 01:36:21 GMT

If more people used a variety of systems I feel that over the long run they would achieve better results. Because the quick pick computers like to repeat alot of the same numbers over and over that is why it takes longer for a jackpot winner to occur. My theory is that if for tonights Mega Millions Drawing let say 90 % of all players sat down and did some analysis like many here (either with the aid of systems or just their own insight) that there would be a winner before next Fridays drawing

Reply #9

lottaloot — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 22:39:30 GMT

I am finding after my hard struggle of trying to find good lottery programs to assist me with winning the lottery, that it is best to just keep a weekly or monthly tracking of the combinations whether it be by root, sum or specific number analysis.At this point, I think that I have been chasing my tale trying to find good programs. I would stay up for hours (and still do) eat, sleep drink lottery numbers, programs, etc; yet in the last month, I am finding that just by keeping a log of what ha... [ More ]

Reply #8

Just6ntlc — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 21:41:52 GMT

I think Quick Picks is better than picking your own in any version of lotto in a regular basis. Picking your own could mean a loss most of the time. Luck is very important.

Reply #7

johnph77 — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 21:27:40 GMT

kdsjeter -If that were the case there would be a much lower percentage of those using quick picks winning jackpots than have actually occurred. I'm not saying that a good system of filters can't better the odds, it's that even the best systems don't win on a regular basis - or that they can win and are winning the lower-tier prizes and have remained unpublished and unpublicized.glj

Reply #6

kdsjeter — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 18:35:04 GMT

I have found that I do a better job picking my own numbers using trends that I have learned. I think statistical analysis helps you to that end, but relying on it too much takes your eye off the ball.In my opinion the quick pick algorithms used are slanted to intentionally build the jackpot pool.Jeter Fan

Reply #5

doodoohead — Mon, 30 May 2005 19:04:28 GMT

Wasn't Einstein so irritated at the thought of randomness in the universe that he said, God does not play dice with the universe ? Einstein did loathe the idea that physical processes could be random. The physicist Niels Bohr, one of quantum physics' strongest proponents, once retorted the quote mentioned above with, Einstein, stop telling God what to do! In 1930, Bohr forced Einstein, through a thought experiment, to accept the uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics.Einstein tried unsuc... [ More ]

Reply #4

djklaugh — Sat, 28 May 2005 04:34:49 GMT

Actually the way that has worked best for me.... twice in the past 4 years I've gotten 5 of 6 on the Oregon Megabucks... is to do the numerical analysis, or make wheels, or what ever.... and every once in a while I take all of the game slips (I save them) and use them like a Tarot deck. Shuffle them really well while concentrating on what you want, divide into 3 piles, select one pile and lay out a tarot spread... then use the slips that you've laid out to play that day's game.... doesn't alway... [ More ]

Reply #3

RJOh — Sun, 22 May 2005 22:55:27 GMT

I think players who develop systems to pick numbers hope that analyzing past lottery drawings will give them a winning edge when picking numbers for future drawings. Commercial programmers and system developers advertise their programs and systems will do just that. Some posters even post that they have used these products and won money. It's no wonder people continue looking for a lottery program or system that will make them a lottery jackpot winner.RJOh

Reply #2

johnph77 — Sun, 22 May 2005 05:37:16 GMT

I do the math because I CAN! You've never seen me post a prediction in this forum, and you never will. Even on my charts I tell the viewer that the data is for informational purposes only. You can do with it what you want.My interest in it was piqued when I lived back in Maryland about 15 years ago - they had the Keno game in bars and I wondered how they arrived at the payout amounts and what the actual payout percentage was. Then I took on the various lottery games there. Basically, they've rel... [ More ]

Reply #1

RJOh — Sat, 21 May 2005 17:12:29 GMT

I've read several times that two third of lottery winners used quick picks, so it's obvious that most winners don't use any type of analysis at all and do just fine. I have programs that I wrote myself to track lotteries and pick the combinations to play base on that data, but I do that because it makes playing the lotteries and losing my money more entertaining. I matched 5of6 in the Ohio649 lottery two years ago, but I credit that to luck because I haven't done it again and I'm still using my... [ More ]

The Math and The Lottery

JKING — Sat, 21 May 2005 15:56:37 GMT

Is standard numerical and statistical analysis really the way to go for a winning system. I've read and seen alot of analysis and work put in for what result? Is it an exercise in futility or just a good way to learn your math. If you are on the pro side, what do you feel is the most beneficial analysis method